Terra Blanca Winery: Great Red Wines and More

A couple of months ago I paid a visit to Terra Blanca Winery, located in Eastern Washington’s Red Mountain appellation, about 15 miles west of the Tri-Cities.

nullThe winery recently expanded its facilities to include a huge new tasting room (pictured at left), two banquet rooms and the largest cave storage project in the state with enough capacity for over 3,000 barrels.

One of the things I like about Terra Blanca is that they don’t rush to release their red wines. This gives them more time to mature and develop their character, resulting in elegant wines with complex flavors and softer tannins.

A case in point is the 2002 Syrah (about $20), which was just released in April of 2007. This beautiful wine has luscious blueberry and plum flavors with a slightly smoky, slightly spicy finish with traces of clove and black pepper.

Another red wine gem is the 2004 Malbec (about $28). Blackberry and black cherry flavors are backed by a good measure of acidity, providing the wine with a bit of brightness to contrast with a trace of spice on the finish.

The winery’s white wine current releases are also impressive. The 2006 Sauvignon Blanc (about $14) is the quintessential wine for this varietal with a nice herbaceous, citrusy aroma and layers of melon, grapefruit and key lime pie flavors.

The 2005 Viognier (about $15) is a personal favorite, with a lovely floral aroma that is so intense, you’ll pick it up as soon as you begin pouring the wine. It’s full of apricot and nectarine flavors and a complex finish that resembles a crisp apple topped with a touch of cream.

The winery also has an extensive selection of reserve and library wines, but you’ll have to visit the tasting room to try them. For more information visit www.terrablanca.com.

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